With 8 capable defensemen, Rangers should rest Ryan Lindgren down the stretch

The playoffs are a virtual lock for the Rangers, and their remaining games are about potentially winning the President’s Trophy and holding onto the Metro Division lead. But as March turns to April, the focus will shift to preparing for the playoffs. That means giving guys some needed games off, and perhaps a plan to rest Ryan Lindgren for a week or two.

Last season, the Rangers were unable to rest anyone due to cap shenanigans needed to land Patrick Kane. Lindgren was hurt, so he got rest naturally, but it didn’t matter much. This year is different. The Rangers are a top team in the league, and the Stanley Cup is the only trophy that truly matters. Putting themselves in a position to win is the priority.

In seasons past, if the Rangers would need to rest Ryan Lindgren or any other defensemen, it would be a significant downgrade on the blue line. The depth simply wasn’t there when it was Libor Hajek or Ben Harpur filling in at the end of the season. As mentioned, this year is different.

Zac Jones is already filling in for Jacob Trouba, and playing some of the best hockey of his young career. Trouba is out at least 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury. Ryan Lindgren, as mentioned, is having a down year and has us convinced he’s nursing some kind of injury as well. The good news is that if the Rangers rest Ryan Lindgren, it won’t be Harpur or Hajek coming in.

The acquisition of Chad Ruhwedel, known for his solid defense, gives the Rangers some flexibility to rest Ryan Lindgren down the stretch. Ruhwedel and Lindgren have similar skill sets, and in theory Ruhwedel would be able to slide right into Lindgren’s spot temporarily. After all, Adam Fox can play with anyone.

It’s only mid-March, but we all know what the ultimate goal is. If it’s true that he isn’t 100%, then finding a way to rest Ryan Lindgren should be one of the goals as the calendar turns to April. Or perhaps even now, in the middle of a 5-in-7, maybe there’s room to rest him. It’s about setting themselves up for a strong April, May, and June. Getting guys healthy is critical.